United States or Tokelau ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
But Willem and Hans had determined upon seeking adventures farther to the north than any place they had yet visited; and hence the present expedition. The promise of sport and rare adventures, added to the fear of ridicule should they remain at home, influenced Hendrik and Arend to accompany the great hunter and the naturalist to the banks of the Limpopo.
Arend and Hendrik were impatient to ride forward, in advance of their companions. But each refrained from making the proposition to the other. Greatly to their annoyance, they saw Hans and Willem halt at the house of a boer, and commence making arrangements for passing the night. This the two did with as little unconcern as though they were still hundreds of miles from home.
One is, that I am dying of hunger, and should like a roast rib of that antelope I shot in the morning." "And so should I," said Hendrik, "but the jackals have saved us the trouble of eating that." Arend was now informed of the events that had occurred to his absence, and was highly amused at Hendrik's account of the misfortune that had befallen Swartboy and Congo.
"I have nothing more to say at present," said Arend, with a significant shake of the head, as much as to say that the subject was too plain to require discussion. "What should we do, Hans?" asked Groot Willem. "Start for home," was the ready answer. "I am now of Hendrik's opinion," continued the botanist.
He now sent Arend Van Dorp to Ghent, to remonstrate with the leaders of the insurrection upon the violence of their measures, and to demand the liberation of the prisoners a request which was only complied with in the case of Aerschot.
All agreed that it would be best to go on to the camp; and, after transferring the saddle and bridle from the carcass of the horse to the shoulders of Congo, they proceeded onward, arriving in camp at a very late hour, and finding Hans, as Arend had conjectured, overwhelmed with apprehension at their long absence.
Moreover, he had the hope of speedy deliverance, which to Congo was denied. He knew that Arend would soon return to the camp with the stray horse, and miss them. The water-vessel would also be missed, and a search would be made for it in the right direction.
This explained the circumstance to some extent, otherwise it would have been difficult to understand how so swift an animal as a horse should have allowed itself to be overtaken upon an open plain. "So much the better," said Groot Willem. "Arend never reached this place along with his horse." "That's true," answered Hendrik, "and our next move will be to find out where he parted from his saddle."
Hendrik and Arend, laying claim to more wisdom in military affairs than the others, rode a little in advance for the purpose of choosing the battle-field. Good fortune had conducted them to a spot favourable to the carrying out of their scheme.
As Macora had supposed, they had been waiting for him to forsake a position so favourable for defence. As the white hunters had now experienced the advantage of receiving the pursuers in a fortified place, Hendrik and Arend, spurring their horses, rode some distance in advance of the herds, for the purpose of selecting a second battle-field.
Word Of The Day